The Mayonnaise Jar, Golf Balls and 2 Cups of Coffee

No I have not been drinking! I got this email today and it just really hit home so I wanted to share it. I have heard/seen this scenario before but it is definitely something to remember!

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and start to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full and they agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "Yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

"Now" said the professor, as the laughter subsided,"I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life."

"The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions; Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

"The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car..."

"The sand is everything else -- The small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued,"there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.The same goes for life."

"If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"So...Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner."

"There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap."

"Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter."

"Set your priorities. The rest is just sand"

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Hmm, aint that the truth? And just what I have been thinking lately. People are always so busy, busy, busy but you need to make time for those cups of coffee with friends. I know I will. Will you?

Why God Why?

You ever just have one of those days where you ask "Why God, Why!?!?" I was having one of those days. It started with Shelby being extra slow this morning, arguing with me over everything and then followed up this afternoon with her screeching at me, kicking the TV over and then storming upstairs. I have to say though that during her afternoon outburst I had to refrain from laughing as it just struck me as silly! But of course that would have just made her more mad and given her just cause to scream and cry some more!

So after her screeching and telling me I am a bad mom and don't know how to raise kids (hey in my defense...they didn't come with owner manuals or instruction books!)I sent her upstairs and was just going to let her stay up there until I was good and ready to let her out. I was thinking maybe age 18?? At this point I asked my friend Nikki the age old question.."Why did we want kids again?" to which she said "I don't know but if you ever find out let me know!"

Anyway, a bit later I heard her come downstairs and in her hand was a piece of paper. At this point with a slight eyeroll I thought, "Oh great another I hate mom letter." So imagine my surprise when I look at it and saw this!



Were the Parent Gods smiling down on me today? Oh I think so!! I am not sure what I did to deserve this. Maybe Shelby is just growing up or maybe something I said, somewhere, someday decided to sink in and she knew she needed to apologize.

Oh I don't know but I immediately sent Nikki a message saying "I figured out why we wanted kids" and sent her this picture! It is moments like this where you just have to go "Yep, this is the reason I have a child!"

Boy did God sure answer my question today.

Happy St Patty's Day!

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything. It is really quite boring here in the Pederslie household.

I really should have gotten a picture of Shelby's St Patty's Day outfit this AM. Picture it...Apple Green t-shirt, pear green ribbin in hair, gray skirt, black leggings with my chartreuse knee socks on! Oh lordy! However my lovely husband informed me that my outfit reminded him of a leprechaun. Sigh...

So here is a song Shelby learned today and sang for us this evening.

Do Your Ears Point Up?
(Tune: Do Your Ears Hang Low)

Do your ears point up? (pull on top of ears)
Do you have a lot of luck? (cross fingers on both hands)
Can you dance an Irish jig? (dance)
For a pot of gold you'd dig. (pretend to dig)
Can you toss gold over your shoulder (pretend to toss over shoulder)
Like a giant throws a boulder? (pretend to throw heavy object)
Do your ears point up? (pull on top of ears)

It's a lot cuter when you get to see the gestures!

Hope you had jolly ol' day!